Acrylic acid is produced by dehydrating
glycerol over a first
mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of
oxygen and water to produce
acrolein and then oxidizing the
acrolein over a second
mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of
oxygen and water to produce the
acrylic acid. The first
mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises oxides of
tungsten and
zirconium. The second mixed
metal oxide catalyst includes a
solid catalyst having the
empirical formula AaVbNcXdOe, where A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te and Se, and X is selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pt, Bi, B, In, Ce, As, Ge, Sn, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Hf, Pb, P, Pm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Au, Ag, Re, Pr, Zn, Ga, Pd, Ir, Nd A, V, N and X are present in amounts such that the
atomic ratio of A: V: N: X is a: b: c: d, where a = 1, b = 0.1 to 2, c = 0.1 to 1, d = 0.01 to 1, and e depends on the oxidation states of the other elements in the second mixed
metal oxide catalyst.